Translator: Flowingcloud Editor: Arocks141
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Theater 1: Horror Actress Reincarnated as a Genius Child Actress – Scene 4
Audition Venue (Noon)
Tsumugi looks at her surroundings.
Tsumugi makes up her mind and talks to the other child actors.
The room was a little wider than usual. Desks were lined up in a row. From the corner of my eye, I could see props being prepared little by little. As I watched from the sidelines, I decided to go and greet the girls who were a year older than me.
After checking with my parents, I found out that their parents were in the entertainment industry. Moreover, the parents and the children were very close to each other. I see, I predicted it! …But I don’t think the kids would care about that kind of behind-the-scenes information. While my parents, who were strangely powerful, were curbing the other parents who were accompanying their children, let’s try interacting with them.
“Hello.”
When I called out to them, Mimi-chan, the quiet-type girl, hid behind Juria-chan, the lively-type girl, then Rin-chan, the cool girl, shook her head exasperated.
“Hi! Mom said it was going to be the three of us, but looks like there’s more!”
I think that’s something you probably shouldn’t say. I hid such thoughts behind my smile and responded to Juria-chan.
“Uh-huh. I suddenly decided to join.”
“Hmm, I see. Ah, I’m Juria. Nice to meet you!”
“I’m Tsugumi. Nice to meet you.”
“Tsugumi!? Tsugumi kinda looks like a fairy!”
Fairy… a fairy, huh? Certainly, my silver blonde and sapphire eye color scheme makes me look like a Nordic fairy.
“Hey, Mimi, greet her too!”
“I-I’m Mimi. It’s nice to meet chuu.”
“Rin. Nice to meet ya.”
“Mhm. Nice to meet you, Mimi-chan, Rin-chan.”
I managed to exchange greetings with all three of them. As expected, interacting with people is the basics of the basics. There might be an unforeseen connection after all. Above all, if you can’t mingle with even a single person at the filming site, you won’t be able to collaborate or empathize with them.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to chat a little longer, I was interrupted again. It seems like they’re ready.
“First off, we will have a simple dialogue test. We will hand you a script, so please read out loud the lines as you see fit.”
The scripts that were handed out were all the same. The scripts are the same so I guess they’re going to judge the difference in expression. However, the three of them just skimmed through it. They’ve probably memorized this, haven’t they? Well, I’ve heard that the scripts for child actor auditions are usually given two or three days in advance.
However, through my impression in this place today, it seems like the other children were not given this beforehand. Was this audition fixed? A fixed game? For some reason, I felt fired up, so I quickly looked over the script then closed it. In this life with my high-spec body, I had a good memory.
“Well then, let’s start with Asashiro Juria-chan.”
“Yes!”
The one in charge was the director. For some reason, I felt like the atmosphere seemed to be sharper than before.
Our partner was a woman prepared by the auditioner side. It seemed like she was a member of a theater company. The situation was simple: The daughter broke an ornament while her mother was away and she hid it. It seems like I’m the last one up, so I guess I’ll have to observe them first.
What Juria-chan was given was a broken piece of ornament. It looked like porcelain, but it seems like it was made of resin for safety reasons. It seemed that they wanted to see how she could improvise: How she could hide the broken ornament while acting.
The dialogue was simple with more freedom in paraphrasing and scene setting, and was written as follows:
Daughter: “Um, Mom.”
Mother: “What’s wrong? xxx (The child’s name.)”
Daughter: “……” (You can stay silent, gloss it over, or insert some dialogue.)
Mother: “What is it? Dear, what are you hiding behind you?”
Daughter: “…It was very important, but I broke it.”
Mom: “Ah! Good grief, after I told you to be careful so many times. Don’t you have something to say?”
Daughter: “I’m sorry.”
Mom: “And then?”
Daughter: “… I won’t do it again.”
Mother: “Good.”
Or something like that. In the footnotes, it is stated that “you can rephrase matching to the image you are performing”, which means it’s okay to think of it as how the daughter, or rather, the person themselves, would perform when they’re guilty.
In other words, there are loose rules where as long as the person does not deviate completely from the script or give up in the middle of the performance, they are allowed to do whatever they want. Is there an actress whose spirit wouldn’t tremble? At least, currently, I am trying to stifle the crooked smile off my face.
“I’m Minauchi Ran. I look forward to working with you.”
“Yes! I’m Juria! I look forward to working with you.”
Minauchi-san was a young woman, probably in her early twenties. Even though her partner was a child, she respected the other party. Most likely, she’s an honest individual.
Juria brought a bucket from the props that they said we were allowed to use however we wished. Thus, she used a bucket to completely hide the broken pieces of porcelain on the floor.
“Well, are you ready?”
The director said, then Juria-chan held the bucket with both hands and turned her back on Minauchi-san.
“Well then… lights, camera, action!”
The director’s yell was followed by the start of the performance. Well now, time to observe.
“Umm, err, Mom.”
“What’s wrong? Juria.”
“Well, I was cleaning and!”
“Is that so? Juria, what are you hiding behind you?”
An uneasy voice. Minauchi-san also changed her lines to match Juria’s performance. I guess I can expect her to be quite flexible.
“To-To tell you the truth, here!”
“Oh my!”
“I’m sorry! It’s something important, right? I broke it…”
“Good grief, after I told you to be careful so many times. Don’t you have something to say?”
“Ughh… I won’t do it again.”
“Good. Don’t try to deceive me again, okay?”
“Okay…”
It’s so cute to see Juria in low spirits with her head down. I’m sure she’s like that at home too. It’s good to gloss it over, then properly apologize.
However, if you look at it from the dialogue point of view, she changed a lot of things… If you listened carefully to the performances of the groups nearby, they were all according to script no matter where you went. In fact, it even felt like they were testing Minauchi’s ability to handle the situation.
“Cut! That’s good, just as expected.”
“Ehehe.”
“I’ll announce the results later, so let’s move on. Next… Mimi-chan.”
“Y-Yes! I-I-I-I’ll do my best! Hwoo, haa.”
Mimi-chan clenched her fist and declared. I think she’s a person that always does her best. It’s just that she’s a little timid. Mimi-chan didn’t cover the broken pieces of porcelain with anything and just hid them behind her back. Both her hands were in front of her chest fidgeting, which was somewhat lovable.
When the director gave the same signal, Mimi-chan shut her eyes firmly and began her lines.
“U-Umm, Mom.”
“What’s wrong? Mimi.”
“I-I, I knew it was something important to Mom, but I.”
“Mimi? …What are you hiding behind you?”
Mimi-chan averted her eyes as if scared of Minauchi-san’s gaze. Instead, she retreated a step back with her legs trembling.
“Oh my! …You broke it, didn’t you?”
“Mhm. Sorry, I’m sorry, Mom!”
“Good grief. You aren’t hurt, right?”
“Nu uh… I won’t do it again, I’m sorry.”
“Good. Be careful next time, okay?”
“Okay…”
I wonder if her honest and proper apology included the feelings of guilt for hiding it. She must have a strict family. Subconsciously, I couldn’t help but think about Mimi’s real family.
That being said, Minauchi-san really is amazing. She probably doesn’t have any children yet, but she’s acting completely as a mother. I wonder if she’s also involved in this drama?
“Cut! Nice. You rephrased well and your expressions are quite good.”
“Y-Yes. …Phew.”
“Alright. Well then, next is Rin-chan, right? Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Rin-chan frankly responded, then placed the broken pieces at her feet. Her style was to purposely not hide it, how fresh. However, if you properly think about it, when this sort of thing happens, a normal kid wouldn’t know what to do, wouldn’t they…
There was a broken piece of porcelain between Rin and Minauchi-san and they got into position. Minauchi-san was looking at it, pondering, but when the director took his place, her expression completely changed. Then, the curtains were raised again, in a similar fashion.
“……”
With an unconcerned, ‘tsun’ expression, Rin-chan turned her head away. 1
“Rin. What’s the matter with this?”
“…It’s broken.”
“It wasn’t broken before Mom went out, you know?”
“Ugh… I broke it.”
“Good grief. Don’t you have something to say to Mom?”
“I won’t do it again.”
“That’s right, but there’s one more thing. Out with it.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Good. You can’t lie again, all right?”
“Okayyy.”
This was very good. I thought she was the cool-type girl, but she’s pretty carefree. She probably has a cozy family. Her arrangement was well done and this one stuck to the script the most. There wasn’t much dialogue, so maybe they didn’t have to say much.
Given the situation, generally, she must have practiced this regularly at home? Her awareness is top-class. Well, it has nothing to do with me though. I just need to give it my best. 2
However, I’d be sorry to my parents, so I won’t go into my ghost mode.
Well now, let’s begin another fun play again today.
Topic: “The girl who broke something important.”
This is my self suggestion from long ago. I tap my chest with my index finger, then I fall into my role. 3
I haven’t turned the switch on yet. That’s the director’s role after all.
“All right, that was good. You’re not so bad yourself, Rin-chan.”
“Yes.”
“Well then… the last one in this group. Are you good? Tsugumi-chan.”
“Yes. I’m always ready!”
“That’s a good answer. Well then, take your positions.”
There’s enough of an audience.
The costar is ready.
Well, now then, let’s get started.
“Action!”
At the director’s shout—my consciousness switched with a click.
Audition Venue (Noon)
Tsumugi looks at her surroundings.
Hiraga, the director, notices Tsumugi’s acting.
In this program, the last turn belonged to that girl. She was the only one who was not given the script beforehand—in other words, it was time for her to improvise just about everything.
A normal kid would have either followed the script or ended up at their wits’ end. However, my instincts were sounding an alarm to me that it wouldn’t end like those common developments.
“(Well now, show me what you got, Sorahoshi Tsugumi.) —Action!”
The broken pieces of porcelain were in front of Minauchi-san and her. Compared to the distance Yoruhata Rin had, it was closer to her side. In regards to that, Tsugmi let her hair hang down and sat down.
“……”
“What’s wrong? Tsugumi.”
So far, all according to the script. However, Minauchi-san confusion was transmitted to me. Then, just as Minnauchi was about to open her mouth to tie everything together through ad libbing, Tsugumi looked up.
Her face drained of blood. White, tightly-knit lips. A trickle of tear fell from her large blue eyes, like a star’s twinkle.
“……”
Matching the timing she opened her mouth, Minauchi gulped without saying a word. It was as if she had been induced to act like that.
“I’m… sorry. Even though Mom told me to be careful.”
I wonder if it was a treasure.
It must have been something important.
Tsugumi lifted the broken piece as if she were scooping up a small bird with broken wings.
“Even though it was something important…”
Her gaze dropped.
Her hand that held the treasure trembled.
The stream of tears wet the floor.
Feeble feet. / The slippers slipped off her hurried feet.
Her hands followed the broken fragment. / I wonder if the living room flooring was wooden.
Her heart in pain and her shoulders shivering. / A flickering light bulb. / Moonlight. / The night breeze. / Embrace her shoulder—
“Poor thing.”
I suddenly came to my senses when I heard the voice of the staff muttering next to me.
—No!
This is not the house where she lives. This is not a place to recall my memories.
A mesmerizing voice where if one kept listening, they’d be absorbed into her world.
The people around her all stopped whatever they were doing and were entranced by the girl wetting herself with pitiful tears. A voice that travels far, a tone that pierces your chest, lifelike acting that captures the atmosphere of this place into her world.
If this was a tear-jerker, the audience’s pillow would be soaked. If this was a story that bears anger, the audience would be trembling in anger. If this was a happy story, the audience would be cheering from the bottom of their hearts. If it was a horror story—they would be afraid just from imagining it.
(Doing this at the age of five—am I witnessing history in the making?)
What does Minauchi, on the other end, think about the “treasured child of that great actress” she’s facing? No, that would be if she was a third party, but she’s directly involved with her acting. There’s no time for her to think.
Minauchi first remained silent. If this were a stage where the roles were more fully developed, then this would be more like an improvised play. There was no choice but to keep acting.
“Tsugumi.”
“Mom?”
“It’s fine. It’s okay.”
“B-But. If it wasn’t for this…”
“It’s fine.”
Minauchi hugged the trembling girl closely. It indicated that there was something more important than the broken object.
“Cut… Man was I surprised.”
That’s right, I lowered the curtains at the perfect timing. Rather than having her say the next line, it would have been more beautiful to draw the curtains closed here. That’s what my experience had told me.
And it must have been the same for Sorahoshi Tsugumi. She remained silent until the act was over.
“Tsugumi-chan. Why did you decide to perform like that?”
I asked her as she bowed her head with a smile and thanked Minauchi. The other three felt guilty for destroying something that was “important to their mother”. However, she was the only one who acted as if she was in biting pain.
“Umm… it didn’t say ‘whose’ important thing it was in the script, so I performed thinking that it was my own important thing.”
“I see, you are not wrong.”
I see. Certainly, you can interpret it like that. And, even I could tell that she had the eyes to see through it.
If I think of her as a child and make light of her, it will be me who will be eaten alive. She was charming like an angel and her performance was that of a pure-hearted girl. That’s why, I must find out for sure in the next test.
“Thank you. Well then, you guys can take a break until the next test.”
After informing them, I issued directions to the staff that were still in a dreamy state of mind. There isn’t any time to take a break.
—Thinking back upon this scene, I never imagined that at that time I would be taught a lesson that her true worth could not be measured by a mere acting test.
If you are reading from a pirate or aggregator site, please read from the translator’s site: yado-inn (dot) com I have to put the link like this or else the bots will remove it, sorry 🙁
- Cloud: Tsun as in tsundere.
- Cloud: Tsugumi’s basically saying that Rin has a lot of “real life” experience, aka she gets in trouble a lot.
- Cloud: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autosuggestion
dayum that was pretty gud
Thanks
this book is good are you still gonna update?
TQ great one
dropped?
One simple scene, and so many different ways to present it. Great chapter 😀 Thank you for the translation